The different ways you can work as an NHS Doctor part-time.
I spent 6 years studying medicine at university but even after all that time I didn’t really know what my job would look like as an NHS doctor….
As I look back now I feel maybe I was a bit naive. I 100% trusted the “system” and “process” I had started… I thought it would guide me through my career like it had from an academic perspective but this is where I was so wrong.
We’re guided through our exams at university but that’s where things end... We need to figure lots of things out for ourselves. This includes what you should do if you think you’ve picked the wrong career.
This was the situation I found myself in in 2020 when I came to the end of my Foundation Training. I wanted to work on a business I had started with my brother but I wasn’t 100% certain I wanted to leave a career in medicine behind me….
This left me with one option: try to do both which is what I found myself doing by working as a locum.
The truth is that I really didn’t know much at the time about the different ways I could work part-time as a doctor in the NHS and I almost accidentally found myself on the path I am now on….It didn’t need to be this way though & I’ve since discovered there are lots of different routes I could have taken and ways I could have started to work part-time as a doctor.
I’m going to break them down for you in this post. Please note, these routes all have their own advantages & disadvantages. I would encourage any one considering these routes to carefully explore them for themselves but hopefully this post will act as a helpful starting point.
Reduced Hours Contract
including Less Than Full-Time Training (LTFT)
As a doctor you can work in the NHS on a reduced hours basis. This is applicable to doctors on a training pathway in most specialities (including Foundation Training) and is referred to as Less Than Full-time Training (LTFT). It is also applicable to non-training positions where you have a reduction in your contractual hours relative to a full-time staff member. There are many NHS Organisations & Trusts which offer flexible working policies in this way but they aren’t commonly talked about. It would be best to raise the possibility of reducing your contractual hours with your HR department or training pathway. The obvious advantage to reducing your contractual hours is you will have more time; however, there are disadvantages. For example, as you reduce your contractual hours your pay will be reduced proportionally as will your entitled holiday/annual leave. Similarly, anyone considering LTFT needs to realise that this will make their training pathway longer (length determined by how much you reduce your hours).
Fixed-Term Part-Time Contract
Another way of working part-time in the NHS is by working a contract which is already part-time You can search for jobs which are fixed-term contracts where the hours are part-time on the NHS jobs website. Here is an example of one!
Job Sharing
Again, this isn’t very commonly talked about but it is available in the NHS. This is essentially where a job is shared between 2 Doctors, such that all tasks are equally divided between each person. It’s more common in General Practice but there are jobs which facilitate job sharing in other specialties. There are even some trusts which have policies outlining that ANY job role can be applied for as a job share (there would need to be another applicant who wants to share the role with you though). You need to look at job applications to see if job sharing is an option or enquire as to whether it would be possible to apply on a job sharing basis. If you are already in a role you might be able to apply to job share your current role. I would recommend enquiring with your HR department to see if they have a Job Sharing policy if you think this could be a suitable option for you!
Zero Hours Contract (aka Locum work)
Lastly, another way to reduce your working hours in the NHS is by working as a Locum Doctor where you choose how many hours you work. This is often thought to be the only way to work part-time as a Doctor but as you can see it isn’t! As a Locum Doctor you provide temporary cover to departments when they need it due to staff shortages (e.g. illness, annual leave requests or rota gaps). You are working on an ad hoc basis. There is no guarantee to how many hours you will work but you have complete control over which shifts you do work. Hence, you can reduce your hours in this way. Locum Doctors are either employed via an NHS Trust directly (through their own team of BANK staff) or indirectly (through agencies). The departments you can work in & the amount of pay you will receive for Locum work will depend on your experience. As a Locum Doctor you are not on a training pathway which means you are essentially pausing any career progression, unless you choose to develop your portfolio yourself to later go down the CESR (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) route. Again, if this is an option which interests you I would recommend speaking to your NHS Trust HR department to learn more about joining BANK. I’ve written a previous blog which outlines more specifically the pros & cons I have experienced working as a locum doctor.
As Doctors there are a few different ways we can reduce our working hours &/or start working part-time. You will need to spend a bit of time researching the different options which are suited to you, based on your role & experience.
It's important to note that the availability of these options may vary depending on your specialty, grade and local NHS trusts. I would strongly suggest you check with your employer or the NHS for specific part-time opportunities in your area. It might feel like these opportunities are quite scarce (or just not widely discussed) but we are very fortunate that we have these opportunities, as lots of other industries aren’t as accommodating.
Lastly, this post has focused on the different ways you can work as a doctor in the NHS part-time. It is also possible to work as a doctor part-time through private organisations but these opportunities are much more variable & you will likely be restricted depending on your training grade (most positions seeking Consultant roles).
I hope this has helped anyone else considering their options. I personally found going part-time was the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s allowed me to create the portfolio career I’ve created today. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via email if you have any questions.
Did you know I offer 1:1 coaching to help others make changes in their lives? This can be related to careers, starting a business or forming healthier habits. Please just send me an email directly to elle@gabrielletodd.com if this is something you feel you would benefit from & would like to learn more about.
